“Cassie,” Akatsuki said again, drifting closer slowly. I couldn’t stop my eyes from widening in surprise and I pulled myself out of bed. “No, no, don’t get up on my account,” he said urgently and flashed forward, supporting me by the elbow as he guided me back to a sitting position. “I’m so sorry,” he breathed, “I shouldn’t have left you. I should have brought you here myself. I’m sorry. Can you forgive me?” I stared at him incredulously. “That’s what you want my forgiveness for? I wouldn’t have let you bring me here, not after what you did to me.”

Akatsuki sighed. “Cassie, you have to understand why I did it. I don’t want to put you at risk all the time. I love you too much to put you in danger.” I looked away. “I love you too much to let you stay away. Logically I know that it’s not definitely safe to be near you, but logic makes no sense when I’m looking at you. I love you,” I breathed. “And I trust you not to hurt me.” Akatsuki slipped his arm around my shoulders and pressed me against his side. “I just wish I had as much faith in myself,” he whispered. He rested his chin on my hair and sighed again, rubbing my shoulder. We sat in silence together for a while as the sun set, making the light that filtered through the infirmary windows a dark indigo colour.

“You should go to class,” I said eventually. Akatsuki dropped his arm. “Is that what you want?” he asked in a quiet voice. I stared into his unfathomable eyes for a long moment before I shook my head. “That isn’t my decision to make. Will you go or stay?” He considered it again and eventually pulled me into a hug. “I can’t bear to leave you again. I won’t do that to either of us.” I smiled, but couldn’t stop a tear from rolling down my face. “Hey now, what’s the matter?” Atasuki asked, wiping my cheek. “You’re still going to leave me, aren’t you? You won’t stay forever. You’ll leave tomorrow, or the next day, or the next time you realise that you’re a vampire and I’m a human. And I can’t bear that thought,” I said, feeling more tears rolling out of my eyes.

I rubbed my eyes furiously with the back of my hand, but I couldn’t stop myself from crying. Akatsuki rocked me gently, making occasional shushing noises. “I can’t leave you, Cassie. Isn’t my being here proof of that? I couldn’t even stay away for one day. If you’ll have me, if you’ll let me love you, then I’ll be here forever. I promise.” I stopped sobbing and looked up at his apologetic expression. “You promise?” I whispered. He nodded, and I smiled slowly. “Thank you,” I said in a voice that was nearly inaudible. Akatsuki exhaled loudly and tightened his arms. He hummed a quiet tune, not something I recognised but beautiful nonetheless.

“Will the others miss you in lessons?” I asked. Akatsuki didn’t stop humming at first, but eventually he said, “Probably. But Kaname will know where I am, and Aido.”

The mention of Aido’s name reminded me again of our encounter the previous night. “Have you spoken to Aido since..?” I let the end of my question hang in the air, knowing he would understand. “Yes. He deeply regrets what he’s done. I couldn’t forgive him, though. Not when he hurt you so much. And his actions drove a wedge between us.” Akatsuki’s words were bluntly clipped and his voice shook with emotion, but I still disagreed. “You should forgive him; you two are great friends. Besides…it wasn’t him that damaged us. It would have happened sooner or later – whether or not I knew didn’t affect the fact that you’re a vampire, or your lack of trust in yourself.” He nodded. “I agree with you. But I have to give it some time, just to let things settle a little. Let’s not talk about it anymore, okay? Can we just sit together and enjoy each other’s company, please?” I nodded and buried my head into his shoulder. “…I love you,” I whispered. He said it back, and then we sat in silence again.